The course of Philosophy of Language is part of the program in Philosophy and it is included among the characterizing training activities.
The course aims to analyze the relationship between some classical topics of the philosophy of language and the topic of human nature. Specifically, students will be invited to reflect on the main philosophical models proposed within the contemporary debate to account for the nature of language and the relationships between these models and some classical references in the history of philosophy. At the end of the course, the student will have acquired:
-) Ability to analyze and interpret philosophical texts;
-) Properties of language and argumentation;
-) Ability to contextualize the acquired knowledge in the Philosophical debate.
The course aims to analyze the relationship between some classical topics of the philosophy of language and the topic of human nature. Specifically, students will be invited to reflect on the main philosophical models proposed within the contemporary debate to account for the nature of language and the relationships between these models and some classical references in the history of philosophy. At the end of the course, the student will have acquired:
-) Ability to analyze and interpret philosophical texts;
-) Properties of language and argumentation;
-) Ability to contextualize the acquired knowledge in the Philosophical debate.
teacher profile teaching materials
• acquire knowledge of the theoretical foundations of the embodied perspective;
• critically discuss the comparison between classical/modular and embodied approaches to language and mind;
• analyze key concepts of cognitive science – such as perception, emotion, action, thought, and language – from an embodied perspective;
• explore the role of gesture as a crucial element in understanding the origin and evolution of language;
• situate the studied texts within the contemporary debate in philosophy of language and cognitive science.
Please note that this course is Module B and constitutes the second part of a 12 CFU course, with Module A taught by Prof. Ferretti in the first semester. The final grade for the 12 CFU exam will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the two modules.
Exam texts for Module B:
A. Borghi, F. Caruana, Il cervello in azione. Dalla rappresentazione all’embodiment, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015.
F. Ferretti, M. Adornetti, L. Chiera, “Embodied cognition e origine del linguaggio: il ruolo cruciale del gesto”, in Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 2011, 38(1), pp. 37-60.
Programme
The program aims to:• acquire knowledge of the theoretical foundations of the embodied perspective;
• critically discuss the comparison between classical/modular and embodied approaches to language and mind;
• analyze key concepts of cognitive science – such as perception, emotion, action, thought, and language – from an embodied perspective;
• explore the role of gesture as a crucial element in understanding the origin and evolution of language;
• situate the studied texts within the contemporary debate in philosophy of language and cognitive science.
Please note that this course is Module B and constitutes the second part of a 12 CFU course, with Module A taught by Prof. Ferretti in the first semester. The final grade for the 12 CFU exam will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the two modules.
Core Documentation
This course is Module B and constitutes the second part of a 12 CFU course. The first part (Module A) is taught by Prof. Ferretti in the first semester. In order to take the 12 CFU exam, students must complete both modules (and therefore also study the texts included in the Module A program). The final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the two modules.Exam texts for Module B:
A. Borghi, F. Caruana, Il cervello in azione. Dalla rappresentazione all’embodiment, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2015.
F. Ferretti, M. Adornetti, L. Chiera, “Embodied cognition e origine del linguaggio: il ruolo cruciale del gesto”, in Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 2011, 38(1), pp. 37-60.
Attendance
Class attendance is highly recommended, as lectures and in-class discussions are an integral part of the learning process.Type of evaluation
The exam will be held in oral form and will consist of a critical discussion of the texts included in the program. During the interview, students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the main contents, analyze them in a comparative perspective, and situate them within the contemporary debate in philosophy of language and cognitive science. Particular attention will be given to argumentative skills and clarity of expression.